Reviews (55)

Efron Is Real
As a university professor originally from New York City and definitely past the "baby Boomer" stage, I still found time to read Nora's essays and thoroughly enjoyed them."Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail," are not "Hilarious" as so many people expect, but rather poignant portrayals of real-life human dilemmas presented in a lighter voice.Nora has been the one who can capture the rare moment within the chaos of reality, and her essays in the "neck" book do just that. This was obviously not meant to be the "book of the year," but a snapshot of the woman behind the captivating novels and films.The essays allow us to see that, she too, is aging with the rest of us, and it comes on all so quickly.I plan on gifting this book for the holidays, along with Gangi's "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause," and "Crazy Salad."The combination will help to get many minds and bodies on a better track.

A disappointment
I ran to get a copy of Nora Ephron's newest book, as I always liked her work. I'm glad I didn't spend the money, and instead got it from the library. I expected a very funny book that would be filled with wisdom and wit. Instead I found a slightly funny book that lacked originality and really had nothing to say. It would be too harsh to call it self-indulgent, but in a way it was. So she had a rent-controlled apartment that she loved, so parenting has changed,and so she has to dye her hair (often). Yawn yawn.
Women (and men) Will Love This Book
I was one of the 5 women in Azzarella's car going to Rayna Gangi's book signing(another great book, by the way) and all of us are at least over 50.Nora, the Golden Girls, even Oprah, will love these stories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. American Satire And Humor    3. Form - Essays    4. Humor    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Humor / Essays   

Editorial Review

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Features

• Box set

Reviews (125)

Bravo, Mr. Watterson, Bravo.
Calvin and Hobbes is quite plainly a timeless calssic. Just as Charles M Shultz's The Penuts Gang, Calvin and Hobbes brings so many emotions to the table it's not even fathomable. It will heartwarm you, bring back childhood memories, pick you up when your down, make you laugh, chuckle and quite possible cry. I have read almost every Calvin and Hobbes book, aside from the tenth aniversery and no matter how many times I read one I can always read it again. Calvin and Hobbes only lasted ten years, yes that's right, ten short years. Although Bill Watterson has refused many pleas for more, his comics are just as special.
25 pounds in comics!
This is an absolute musthave for all Calvin and Hobbes fans.I had to use almost all my birthday money to buy this treasury collection, but it was worth the price.This set has three hardbound books fitted into 1 slipcase and I found out that to get the books out you had to tip the set so the books would slide out.The pages are thick but instead of stiched they're glued to the spine.Watterson's brilliant watercolor really stood out and made the pictures come to life.The set includes an introduction by Watterson and comics he drew earlier including an earlier version of Calvin and Hobbes.These books are very heavy so don't put it on your bookcase unless it's strong enough.No family is complete without this collection especially if you're a kid.

COME BACK CALVIN!
This is the defintive collection on this iconic comic strip.It is beautifully presented and a fitting tribute to Calvin and his stuffed tiger.Everytime I see the comics section of a paper I think of Calvin and Hobbes and am reminded of how consitant and quality this strip was; it is missed everyday.I can't imagine anyone not loving this collection, it is quite simply, the best.Come back Calvin, we miss you... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. General    4. Humor    5. Cartoons & comic strips    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (9)

Pretty & Pretty Clever
The first thing to notice about this Lost Girls collection is how beautiful it is.The artwork is very attractive and it comes as three large volumes in a boxed set that is reminiscent of the collections of fairy tales the authors are emulating.Of course, you wouldn't want to inadvertently leave this on your child's bookshelf because this is a collection that is clearly for adults.
Vulgarity Without Redemption
What we have here is Moore retelling the stories of "Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz".He strips the tales of their fantasy elements, placing the characters of Wendy, Alice and Dorothy in real life situations of sexual awakening.Of course the idea of fairy tales and folklore carrying at their heart, themes of sexuality, is nothing new, but here Moore puts aside any pretense of masking those themes behind the fantastic.
Adults Only Reimagined Fairy Tales
Suppose you actually met Dorothy from Wizard of Oz or Wendy from Peter Pan and they at down to tell you the strange sordid tales of their lives before and after the worlds fpound in the books that made them famous. Then suppose they invited you up for a spot of tea and some sexual adventures. Sound strange? No more than this tome of sexually explicit tales that the most famous characters in childhood literature recount to one another over tea and crumpets. Well, not really cumpets, but it sure sounds British, doesn't it. Buy this only if you have a deeper understanding of sexual literature and the dark world of Alan Moore, one of the greatest authors in the history of the comic book. This i not a book for children, but it's also not an illustrated Ribald Tale that used to pop up in Playboy. It delves deeply into the psychology of sex and hints that our favorite characters from Peter Pan etc. were actually quite mad. Moore tries his best to acknowledge Freud's tenet that all of human emotions are derived from the depths of our sexual core and that such dreams and thoughts reflect the very basis of all human behavior. This is not for children or even young adults as the illustrations, which are very graphic, can obscure the very witty and intelligent dialogue when viewed by the immature mind. It is the storyline that makes this effort so attractive and at the same time repulsive to the reader but it is at the very worst stimulating reading and at the very best..well.. stimulating reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Graphic Novels    2. General    3. Graphic Novels    4. Graphic Novels - General    5. Humor    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / General   

Reviews (64)

As informative and insightful as his TV show!
Olbermann - whose journalistic work could prove him to be this century's Edward R. Murrow - has written a fine alternative to Bernie Goldberg's "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America" that's far more witty and not nearly as one-sided...for those who deride him as another lackey of the "liberal media", I suggest you take a look back @ his coverage of Lewinskygate during the Clinton administration.
Bill O'Reilly wannabe
Give me a break. . . People you have got to be more intelligent than this.All this guy does is essentially ride Bill O'Reilly's coat tails.He's looked at what Mr. O'Reilly has done with his career, realized that he is not even CLOSE to being able to beat him at his own game, so he becomes the "anti-O'Reilly" wow - what a novel (and idiotic) concept.Keith Olbermann is a Bill O'Reilly wannabe - and can't even come close to measuring up.I thought this book was more of a typical liberal whining session.BORING and TERRIBLY PREDICTABLE!!Don't waste your money on this one. . . go check your neighbor's trash dumpster for a copy.

Great book coffee table book
While this book does not look like the typical coffee table book (no pictures) it is a great book to keep somewhere handy for those moments when you have a little time to kill.The stories are incredibly funny and enjoyable, and don't take very long to read at all.While all of them appeared on tv during Keith O's show, the ones I remembered were still funny the second time.Love his show, and love his book!
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Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Celebrities    3. Conduct of life    4. History & Theory - General    5. Humor    6. Miscellanea    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Topic - Political    9. United States    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (6)

I was literally sent downstairs for laughing too loud.
Seriously.I was up past bedtime, and I was reading Bryson's description of lame 1950's toys.I won't give it away, but imagine what he can do with the topic of "electric football".After a particularly vigorous episode of chortling, my wife trudged out of bed to decree that, if I insisted on continuing to read, I'd have to take it downstairs.
The FUNNIEST book I have read in years!!!
This is a wonderful, funny, and ultimately very human book, which reminds us all, no matter who we are or where we live (I'm Australian) of the total joys of a happy childhood.
A pure joy.
So far as I can tell, there are only 2 problems with Bill Bryson.First, he writes about his life, which means he has to go live it for a while before he can write another book.So he can't write constantly, which is about the only pace likely to keep up with my appetite for his work.Second, he doesn't live near me, so I can't visit him to catch up between books.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Bryson, Bill    6. Childhood Memoir    7. General    8. Humor    9. Iowa - Local History    10. Literary    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Regional Subjects - Midwest    13. Travel writers    14. United States    15. Voyages And Travels    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (181)

terrific lampooning of the genre
THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE is a terrific lampooning of the genre as Max Brooks (with illustrator Max Werner) warns people to take these attacks seriously or else within twenty-three hours be dead and reanimated as a slow limping creature (that is why they instinctively hunt in packs).Mr. Brooks provides a historical perspective over the millenniums of documented Zombie attacks and what to do and more important not to do when the real judgment day occurs as the dead rise to increase their ranks.Filled with tips on combat (if a choice flight rather than fight), key supplies (two pairs of socks), and how not to lose loved ones to a Zombie.Readers will find this an amusing satire on survival, horror movies and books, and George Romero as obviously Max squared have insider information that a zombie traitor must have leaked, but the humor holds up better by reading small bites over time.
F**KING BRILLIANT!!!
I expected to be disappointed with this book . . . but it is destined to be a classic!And when I read the section on "zombie outbreaks throughout history," it was written so convincingly that I actually did a series of Google searches to see what came up!Apparently, the guvmint has suppressed all mention of these events . . . .
Great Read.
This book is a wonderful piece of fiction. I hesitate to really call it "humor", because while I find it amusing that the book is presented as deathly serious, it doesn't really make me laugh while reading it. Rather, I think this book is just well-designed as a no-nonsense guide to living through a Zombie attack. Perhaps the best thing about the book is that it advises you NOT to be a hero, it warns against trying to take on hordes of undead. It tells you to be reasonable; avoid confrontation unless necessary. It treats its reader as an average suburbanite.
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Subjects:  1. Form - Parodies    2. General    3. Humor    4. Monsters    5. Zombies    6. Humor / General   

Reviews (2)

"Welcome to 1962!"
It's almost 45 years since Sally uttered this rather sarcastic prophecy to Linus after he filled her ears with tales of the Great Pumpkin (much of this story featured here in The Complete Peanuts Volume 6 would later make its way in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown).The cartoons in this anthology would be featured in Holt paperbacks such as We're On Your Side, Charlie Brown, You Can't Win, Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home and You Can Do It, Charlie Brown.Other cartoons featured here would include one of the 1st Beethoven birthday parties hosted by Schroeder (featured on the cover of this volume), though one year he'd forget Beethoven's birthday and sink into a deep depression and would resign as catcher in order to devote more time to practicing his piano ("You're what?!" asks a devastated Charlie Brown, several times).Also, a new character named Frieda would make her debut.She was known for her vanity ("How do you like my naturally curly hair?") and harrassing Snoopy ("Why aren't you chasing rabbits?").She would later get a cat to spite Snoopy, whose attitude towards cats is typical of any dog "Cats are the crabgrass in the lawn of modern life!"Also, one of the great characters you never saw in person is mentioned quite a bit in the Van Pelt household- Linus's blanket hating grandma!Linus defends his blanket after being teased by Violet and Patty ("I am the Count Dracula of Transylvania!") and takes the brunt by a disappointed Sally after a night of sitting in the pumpkin patch.In 1962, he'd be featured wearing glasses, which Snoopy would often steal, along with his blanket.He and Charlie Brown are best buddies, though Charlie Brown doesn't share his beliefs in the Great Pumpkin and they get in an argument when Charlie Brown reveals to Linus that Miss Othmar gets paid for teaching (imagine the shock and depression when Linus discovers Charlie Brown is right!).He pulls a fast one on big sister Lucy, congratulating her for being crabby at him every day for over a year.Charlie Brown has trouble flying a kite (he almost buys a kite until Lucy preaches to him how cruel that would be to the kite!) and is bereaved when his baseball hero Joe Shlabotnik is sent to the minors (he stays loyal to his baseball hero, for the "blockhead" knows quite well the agony of defeat).He is given his own t-shirt which reads "Manager" and will not call off a ballgame just because of rain (Linus erects a wooden shade to protect him) and this is one of the only times his team wins a game!But he takes a chance on stealing home and slide as he might, he doesn't make it and becomes the goat again.Lucy gives some advice for free "The sooner you forget about it, the sooner everybody else will.Good night, goat!"Shermy says "Well, Charlie Brown, there a lots of pills we must swallow."Charlie Brown says he'd rather cancel his prescription!Charlie Brown admits he wishes he could be known as "Flash" Brown!The Van Pelts get a pool table and the entire Peanuts gang gets upset when their mothers spend more time playing pool than taking care of them.Sally is thrilled to get her own library card, gets frustrated with jumpropes and fears entering Kindergarten.Lucy is still Lucy, crabby to Linus ("Am I buttering too loud for you?")and Charlie Brown("AUUUUGH!"), she's hopelessly in love with Schroeder (painfully, too, since he often yanks the piano away from her head!) though admittedly the "fussbudget" knows nothing about his hero Beethoven after the Beethoven shindig and offers advice for anyone who has 5 cents (quite often good ol' wishy washy Charlie Brown).Snoopy's imagination still runs wild as he makes friends with a snowman who melts before his eyes and imitates a ferocious vulture, much to the chagrin of the Peanuts gang.As you can guess, Snoopy is less than thrilled with rabbit chasing (he'd rather make friends with them) and the prototype of Woodstock is featured here (though it'd be 8 years before he'd be introduced by name).The beagle gets a turkey as a Christmas present and reflects "Happiness is a thoughtful friend!"Also, look forward to an intro by Diana Krall, who like Schroeder, is an accomplished pianist.

Waiting eagerly...
This series is going to be a regular drain on my bank balance for the coming decade, as that is how long it is going to take Fantagraphics to finish publsihing this collection, if they stick to their published schedule.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Humor    5. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

Complete 2-book Set : Identical as the books sold separately only cheaper!
The Complete Peanuts is definitely complete! It's a real collectors' item! Hats off to Fantagraphics Books for initiating such an ambitious project though their release schedule (releasing only two books every year - it will take twelve and a half years before the entire collection is published) leaves one frustrated.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Humor    5. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Editorial Review

David Sedaris became a star autobiographer on public radio, onstage in New York, and on bestseller lists, mostly on the strength of "SantaLand Diaries," a scathing, hilarious account of his stint as a Christmas elf at Macy's. (It's in two separate collections, both worth owning, Read more

Reviews (637)

Caution, this book will make you laugh....hard.
I reread this recently and I laughed as much as I did the first time I read it.David Sedaris is quite a national treasure even though most people don't know who he is!His writing is wonderful, poignant, sentimental and hilarious.The man knows how to write well and you can tell he continues to love his craft.
Don't take life too seriously. You'll never get out alive.
David Sedaris just might be the funniest man alive.
Me tAlK PRettY ONe DAY
"I know the thing that you speak exact now. Talk me more, you, plus, please, plus," Says David Sedaris, "talking pretty" in his book, Me tAlK PRettY ONe DAY. (page 173) The quote above is from a story about the absurdities of taking French lessons. The book is a collection of funny memoirs about such awful experiences as speech therapy in elementary school, his father forcing him to take guitar lessons from a midget and moving to France and not being able to speak French. Most of the stories center around his bizarre siblings and parents, including his obsessively swearing brother Paul, his alcoholic, chain-smoking mom and his drama-obsessed sister Amy. As the book progresses the stories take place later in his life and follow him into adulthood. We see him growing older but still being the same timid, disturbed outsider. While this book is not part of a series, David Sedaris has written many other humor books like it, such as Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice.
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Subjects:  1. Americans    2. Essays    3. Form - Essays    4. France    5. Humor    6. Paris    7. Paris (France)    8. Humor / Essays    9. American Satire And Humor   

Reviews (3)

The Get Fuzzy crew at its best
I just bought this book a couple of days ago and have already read most of it. It is another great collection of hilarious cartoons featuring Bucky, Satchel and Rob and their efforts to maintain a happy household. Of course Bucky does his best to keep that from happening. I'm glad it was finally released. It was well worth the wait.

The Best Yet
This is by far the best Get Fuzzy collection to date. It has some of the newer strips, some I've seen in the papers and more than a few that I haven't. Perhaps the funniest is when Bucky takes Smacky to get appraised at one of those traveling antique tv shows. I laughed until I cried. A definite classic Bucky moment. This is Conley at his best.

Renevatio
Sweetness is upon us my friends. life long get fuzzy fan and i tell ya, thar aint no comic out there is better than get fuzzy. es[ecially the new stuff. the new stuff isHILARIOUS.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Graphic Satire And Humor    5. Humor    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (1)

Funny and eye-opening
The lists provided in this book act as a testament to the idiocy of some people. Even those that hold top positions in our society did not get there based upon their intelligence.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Humor    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Humor / General   

Reviews (3)

Yiddish with the WASP Family
This follow up to Yiddish with Dick and Jane takes another step in doing something different - putting Yiddish words into the mouths of George Bush and family, a well-known WASP crew. In Yiddish with George and Laura, the Bush clan gathers to celebrate Bar (Barbara Bush) and Poppy's (George) birthdays with a few adventures on the way.
a fabulous gift
What a wonderful, warm laugh I got when I received this book as a gift. I recommend it to anyone and everyone that is interested in the nuances of Yiddish as used to describe our embarrassing White House leadership! The artwork is fantastic, and I must say we are still laughing about it. Great gift!
If you have a sense of humor!
The authors of Yiddish with Dick and Jane have written another equally humorous book, Yiddish with George and Laura.
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Subjects:  1. Bush family    2. Form - Parodies    3. Humor    4. Topic - Political    5. WASPs (Persons)    6. Yiddish language    7. Humor / Parodies    8. Humour collections & anthologies   

Reviews (7)

BUY THIS BOOK!! It might save your life.
This is a slightly edited copy of mail I sent to Andy Borowitz. I seriously needed and loved this book. Please take a chance and buy it. As I said, above, it might save your life. Or at least your mental health!
It's not really a play ...
but it is a tragicomedy. The manipulation and betrayal of American voters may not seem hilarious, but Borowitz shows us humor galore there.
Sharp Satire Shocker!
Andy Borowitz is a genius of political satire! I ordered "The Republican Playbook" and Frank Rich's "The Greatest Story Ever Sold" at the same time. One is fiction, one is non-fiction. One makes me laugh, one makes me cry.
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Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. American wit and humor    3. Form - Parodies    4. Humor    5. Political Process - Political Parties    6. Political satire, American    7. Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )    8. Topic - Political    9. United States - 21st Century    10. Humor / Parodies   

Reviews (14)

When's the next book?
This is material I normally would only be half interested in, but I was completely engaged and couldn't put the book down.

Old rememberances
I always liked those comics that took place around the turn of the century or even earlier, and inevitably always ended up showing machines like the one in this book. Wacky guns, ungodly huge everything; completely unresonable in the real world, especially thirty years before their supposed invention, but fantastic on the page. Now I have a book full of these and a stack of comics that I'm suddenly interested in again. Zack might be a regular 'ol crazy fiction writer, but he sure supplied some great material to the artist types out there.

Zack Book Good!
Zack Parsons has done a great job with this book.As a mechanical engineer, I've always been fascinated with WWII era "wonder weapons" and have read a number of books on the subject.Of all of those books, this on is perhaps the only one I would recommend to someone who had only a passing interest in the subject.Zack keeps it light and entertaining throughout - this isn't just good WWII geekery, it's good reading, too.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. Military Science (Specific Aspects)    6. World War II - Europe    7. Europe    8. Humor / General    9. Inventions & inventors    10. Second World War, 1939-1945    11. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (105)

grand ole' time
Hilarious encounters and stories involving ample idiots and alcohol.A great read, but definitely not for the sensitive types.My female friends and I all loved it!Word for the wise, you need a cynical outlook and sick sense of humor to enjoy.But if you're a slightly twisted individual as myself who has no problem laughing at other's unfortune/stupidity, you will have a field day with this quick and easy read. I may even inspire you to take down some of your own unbelievable stories.

Hilarious
I didn't know how funny a book can be until I was reading this book. I didn't think reading it in public would be that bad, but apparently, bursting out in hysterical laughter on the eliptical machine in the gym is a little frowned upon, especially if I accidentally mension the fact that he shat all over himself during my laugh. I believe I fell in love with Tucker just a little, but too bad he doesn't look as good as he does on the cover, the little chubster. Hopefully, I hear of more encounters with women that aren't blonde haired and blue eyed. He should visit hawaii where he can get more variety.
A hilarious walk down memory lane....
I couldn't put this book down.This was an absolutely hilarious, and sometimes wincingly so, over-the-top account of random "hook-ups" with women that are glimpses of an earlier time in most college aged males lives that, for Mr. Max, seem to continue long past when the majority of us have sold out to marriage, kids, the white picket fence, stable pay check....etc.I found myself thinking during every chapter..."Holy cr**, what if his mother reads this?" Unforturnately fate has a sense of humor and I have three daughters now...maybe I'll have them read this book before they go off to college as a "heads-up" to what is out there.Mr. Max, I'll see you in hell and the first round is on me! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Conduct of life    3. Humor    4. Men    5. Topic - Adult    6. Tucker, Max    7. Biography: general    8. English    9. Fiction / Humorous    10. Humour    11. USA   

Editorial Review

Lumberjacks, pirates, and Chuck Norris all agree that there is but one arbiter of manliness, and he has but one name: Maddox. The longtime proprietor of the absurdly popular website, The Best Page in the Universe, Maddox has thoughtfully collected his vast masculine wisdom for the first time in a useful reference work, The Alphabet of Manliness. Since men of course communicate with others only under duress, this book may be the sole resource for those starved for answers about basic manly subjects such as urinal etiquette, road rage, and beef jerky.Read more

Reviews (147)

Awesome, bro, I hope the new Maxim is out
Yeah, this isn't funny - at all.
Bow-down, you supplicant pussies
Holy beaver biscuits... I've been in a Jim Beam-soaked kidney buster of a dream for the last 5 months, ever since Maddox sent me his book and I celebrated by bagging the entire PAC 10 cheerleading collective... the smelly skanks deserved it.
Get ready to laugh out loud!
My Goodness, he is an incredible guy and this book is one of the funniest I have ever read. I was wondering wh